Sick dog rescued at Angkasa Apartment

Published on: Saturday, October 23, 2021

By: Dr Roslee bin Haji Abbas

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HElping Animals Rescue Team (Heart)

IT’S TOUGH to be a stray/homeless dog in Sabah. Everyday is a struggle to survive. They’re fraught with peril. Ignored by society and cast aside like yesterday’s trash, stray dogs are forced to rely on their ingenuity and tenacity if they are to survive. And even then it is often not enough.

They’re forced to live life out on the tough streets as voiceless members of society. Unlike humans, animals can’t ask for help as easily. And chances are, even if they do get some attention, it’s not enough. We human beings should protect the animals. They too deserve to live on this planet; Earth was not made for just humans.

A homeless dog was left to die in Angkasa apartment from illness and injuries before being found by a good Samaritan, Tuan Haji Ahmad. We couldn’t believe that passers-by hadn’t stopped to help her. The good Samaritan gave the dog some water – she was breathing but not moving.

Anticipating that he might get some help from various animal NGOs based in Kota Kinabalu, Tuan Haji Ahmad, a resident of Angkasa apartment called a few animal rescue team. However, to his disappointment, they turned him down.

According to Tuan Haji Ahmad, in trying to call all the animal NGOs, nearly five hours were wasted. During these five hours, he could see that the dog’s health deteriorating fast. Initially, she was sitting on the grass but later she lost all the strength and she laid down on the grass near the drain. Later, he realized that all her movement had stopped. Had a good Samaritan, not found or ignored the injured dog and called Heart, she would have died of dehydration, heat stroke or as a result of her illness, wounds and injuries.

Around 5.30am on Wednesday, Heart received a call of a dog being found – motionless and almost dying – at Angkasa apartment in Menggatal. Heartbroken and worried. That’s likely the range of emotions our rescue team felt when we responded to a call about a stray /homeless dog on a brink of death. When we arrived we got our first terrifying glimpse of the motionless dog. The dog, however, continued to whine. We could see right away that something was terribly wrong with the dog. She was barely breathing, her back was severely, and tragically injured.

It was like she hadn’t eaten in days. We hated to see her suffering. She also had a cut and bruises on her hind legs. She was so frail she couldn’t even lift up her head. She had sores all over the body. She was in a pathetic condition. The dog, who has been named Angkasa by us, crying in what must have been a dreadful pain with such awful injuries. We could see she was very unwell and needed some urgent medical attention.

With a dreadful illness and injuries she had been left for many hours to fend for herself. We’re animal lovers and we cannot see them in pain. It broke our hearts to know that it was even possible for the poor creature to get to this point. She was so sick and frail and her eyes had completely lost their shine. She had given up on trying to stay alive for sure but we’re not giving up on her yet and wanted to give her a second chance at life. We knew we had to act quickly to save her. We immediately scooped her up and took her to a vet, where she was stabilised. She had a deep gash on the front leg, and open wounds on her body. She is still very weak, and in shock. Only time will tell if she’ll make it out alive.

The doctor told us that if the dog made it through 24 hours then maybe she stood a chance. Since we didn’t even think she would make it through the night this was the best news we could have hoped for.

The vet examined Angkasa and found she was suffering from anaemia, heartworm, blood parasite and kidney disease. X-rays also revealed that the dog Angkasa had pulmonary edema in the lungs. It is often associated with pneumonia. The doctor says that the dog’s illness is serious and he is trying to save her.

Sweet Angkasa, you deserve the world and more, and we promise you nothing short of that for the rest of your days. There are humans like us who will treat you as family, and keep your needs close to our hearts. Once you are fully healed, we are going to care of you. Thank you for trusting us in what will be a long journey.

We receive no government funding and rely on the support and kindness from our community, private donations and charity bazaar to complete our mission. Heart does not euthanise animals to make space to house others. We are a no-kill animal welfare group and work to preserve life whenever possible.

We rely on donations from people like you who are willing to spend their hard-earned money to help animals in dire need.

If you would like to help to pay for Angkasa’s medical expenses please send your money to:

CIMB BANK BERHAD

Account no.

70 3762569 4

ROSLI @ ROSLEE BIN ABBAS

DONATE – Angkasa

Angkasa’s story is one in a million. Sadly, so many of the homeless animals in Sabah suffer and die every day without treatment for illness and injury.

So, help us continue to maintain and grow our Heart services – have a heart. Donate!

And every ringgit helps! Thank you in advance for your generous, big and small (and no donation is too small).